Folding grate



Aug. '11, 1942. I s. r. HOWARD FOLDING GRATE Filed June 18, 1941 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Aug. 11, 1942 UNITED STATE S mini-OFFICE"-;

amended April 30, 1928; 370 0. G. 757) The invention described herein,if patented may be manufactured and. used by or for the Government forgovernmental purposes. without the payment of any royality thereon...

This invention relates to an improved folding fire grate, moreparticularly to a collapsible fire grate forming a part of the heatingequipment of a range or the like, for use with solid fuels of any kindin an emergency in the event that liquid fuel is not obtainable for usein liquid fuel burners which are regular equipment. More specifically,for instance, for use in the new portable Army range and other heatingrequirements of the service, if gasoline or other liquid fuels are notobtainable.

An object of this invention is to provide a simple, durable, andinexpensive device that may be quickly arranged for use, or folded forstorage into compact form and will occupy a small space.

Another object is to provide a construction wherein the parts may all,with only a few exceptions, be formed of stamped sheet metal of apreferred gauge.

Another object is to provide a structure that may be rapidly fabricatedby unskilled labor, in quantity, at very low cost.

A further object is to provide a grate requiring n machine work,throughout by punching, die work and spot welding inthe formation of theparts and their assembly.

The above and further objects will appear in the following descriptionand be finally pointed out in the claims.

While a preferred embodiment of the invention is shown, it will beunderstood that slight changes in the form and minor details ofconstruction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of theinvention, or fall beyond the scope of the claims.

Similar numerals indicate corresponding parts in all the figures of thedrawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a view, for illustrative purposes, showing a vertical sectionof a portion of a range with the improved grate in full lines in theposition it occupies when in use as a heating unit and in dotted linesfolded in the position it occupies when stored and not in use.

Fig, 2 is a perspective view of the grate arranged for use with thefront plate swung down in full lines to better show the parts and indots in its normal operating position.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the grate, showing the parts in foldedpositions.

the parts being produced Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section of thegrate,the parts in folded positions. a 3

Fig. 5 is a transverse section of the grate with the parts folded, 1 iv,

, Reference now being had to the drawings by numerals; I indicates arange into which the grate may be inserted on rails 2 for use in theconsumption of solid fuel for heating purposes, and 3 indicates a spacein which the grate may be folded and stored when not in use.

The base plate 4 of the grate is provided with a rectangular opening 5.Arranged across said opening at intervals are the grate bars, preferablyround, in cross section as shown at 6, fiattened at their ends at l, andspot welded to the base plate at their ends across opening 5. The baseplate is provided at its rear edge with upturned flange 8 adapted tostiffen the plate and form a bumper for the grate, when being insertedwithin a range or in other positions for heating or storing, and shieldthe parts when folded.

Side plates 9 are hinged at In, adjacent to the side edges of opening 5,having their ends formed on an angle as shown at H, and are held, whenthe grate is arranged for use, in inwardly and downwardly inclinedpositions. Said side plates are identical with the exception of pins l2mounted at the rear upper corners of the side plates which project fromthe plates in opposite directions and require them to be rights andlefts.

Rear plate [3 hinged to base plate at M is provided with wings l5 at itsends arranged on angles adapted to provide an inward and downwardinclination to the rear plates when plates 9 and I3 are connected. Wingsl5 are provided with perforations I6 adapted to be engaged by pins l2 ofthe side plates in such a manner as to prevent accidental separation ofthe plates at said connecting points in the following manner: When thegrate is arranged for use, the rear ends of the side plates 9 arelocated on the inner face of wings l5 with pins I0 of said plates inengagement with perforations N5 of the Wings I5. The weight of the fuelplaced in the grade will tend to force the side and end plates outwardlyat their tops, the side plates are held firmly against outward movementby wingsv l5 and the pins l2 on side plates 9 are forced into fullengagement with perforations l6 and outward swing of the end plate 13 isprevented by pins l2 of the side plates (see Fig. 2), it being obviousthat an inward movement of the tops of side plates 9 is required towithdraw pins 12 prior to the disengagement of the rear plate and therear ends of the side plates.

The front plate I! is hinged to the base plate at [8 and extends abovethe other plates, is adapted under certain conditions to not only form afront inclined wall to the grate, but to direct the draft of airentering a structure in which the grate is operating to beneath thegrate.

To fold the grate, as set up for use as shown in Fig. 2 to its foldedcondition as seen in Fig. 3, front plate I! is folded on its hingesaround beneath the base plate and side members 9 are moved inwardly ontheir hinges at their tops to withdraw their pins I! from perforations[6 in wings l of the rear plate I3, the rear plate, and the side platesmay then be folded down on top of the base plate, into flat compactform.

Having fully described my invention what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. A folding grate comprising, a base plate having an opening crossed bygrate bars and a rear bumper flange, side plates havzing ends formed onan incline and pins mounted in their rear upper portions hinged on thebase plate adiacent to said opening therein, a rear plate having wingsat its ends arranged on an angle, perforations in the wings adapted tobe engaged by the pins of the side plates and a front in contact withthe front inclined edges of the side plates, said side, rear, and frontplates adapted when arranged for use to provide a hopper-shaped fuelcontainer terminating at its lower end at the edges of the opening inthe base plate.

2. A stamp metal folding grate comprising, a base plate having anopening crossed by grate bars and having a rear bumper flange, stampmetal side plates having ends formed on an incline and pins mounted intheir rear upper portions hinged on the base plate adjacent to saidopening therein, a stamp metal rear plate having wings at its endsarranged on an angle, perforations in the wings adapted to be engaged bythe pins of the side plates and adapted to prevent separation of theside and rear plates and a stamp metal front plate for contact with thefront inclined edges of the side plates, said side, rear and frontplates adapted when arranged for use,

to provide a hopper-shaped fuel container terminating at its lower endat the edges of the opening in the base plate.

STYLES T. HOWARD.

